Queer Street by James McCourt

[+ Charlie]

Has anyone else read the strange new book by the author of the 70s cult classic "Mawrdew Czgowchwz"? It seems to be a gay memoir crossbred with "Finnegan's Wake". I can't figure out who the fairly orthodox publisher W.W. Norton thought the readers would be. It is surprisingly moving for me, but I think only someone with almost the same personal history as McCourt could make any sense out of it (I do, but I don't know anyone else who does). Will? Anyone?

[Guest alanm]

I agree about "Queer Street." Some parts are brillant (the long analysis of "Vertigo"), but the disjointed writing style in very annoying. I can not image anyone sticking with it who did not have at least some of the same experiences as McCourt.

 

I heard McCourt speak in Philadelphia on Monday and expected to ask him a question about the writing style. After he had taken several other questions, there was no reason to ask. He found it impossible to answer any question without ling digressions that had little to do with the question. That's just McCourt. He said that the book was selling quite well and the publisher (Norton) was stongly behind it.

Sadly, I can not recomment it to anyone who is not at least 50 and grew up in or near New York City.

[BigGayAl]

Well I'm 49, live in New York, and am an avid reader of contemporary fiction and a lover of "gay" literature and I found this book to be unreadable. The style is unintelligible, the humor is hackneyed and unfunny -- this mess is MUCH ado about absolutely NOTHING!

[eastbayguy]

WOW! What diverse book reviews. I hope the Scottsdale library has a copy, because you guys have persuaded me I need to take a look. Sounds like a really unique book.

 

--EBG

[+ Charlie]

You're too young, my dear (isn't it nice to hear that at 49?). I happen to have had the same education, been in the same places, met the same people, and done the same kinds of things as McCourt, so much of the book resonates with me, but as I said above, I can't imagine there are very many of us, so I don't know how the book will find an audience. (My partner, whose background in the 1950s and 60s was very different, threw it down as unreadable after a couple of pages.)

[NYCOperaQueen]

I'm working my way through, or should I say along, Queer Street and I can understand the complaints of other posters. However, I'm enjoying the book very much.

 

McCourt's style can be infuriating. Half the book is parenthetical asides and the other half consists of digressions. Nonetheless, he accomplishes something moving and important in this book. He manages to define the Queer Temperament. He does this collage-style through example and experience: excerpts of overhead conversations, autobiographical snippets, quotations from articles, and discussions of how gay men experience movies, opera, and theater. As others have indicated, the discussions of movies are quite brilliant. It is worth getting the book to read the sections on Vertigo and the films of Douglas Sirk.

 

McCourt is clearly concerned that something special has been lost through the mainstreaming of gay culture and he worries that gay men will just become frilly decoration.

 

I'm too young (42) to have experienced many of the things that McCourt did. I never stood in standing room at the old Met - a kind of gay finishing school as McCourt describes it, had a quickie in a subway restroom back when there were subway restrooms, or heard a diva perform at a bathhouse. Nonetheless, I’m finding the book to be very engrossing and would recommend it to others who have the patience to go along with its very meandering flow.

 

Richard

[Guest alanm]

Let me give people an example of McCourt's answer to a question in Philadelphia, because the answer reflects the meandering style of the book.

 

"Queer Street" is a history of gay life up to the AIDS crisis. McCourt

was asked about present gay life in NY as refected by "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" on TV and "Take Me Out" on Broadway. McCourt does not see much TV or Broadway, but did see one episode of "Queer Eye"

and "Take Me Out" off-Broadway. He approves. But, the one sentence

approval came after a nearly 10 minute story about the birth of his nephew's son and McCourt's acceptance in that household. It was a mildly interesting story, but had nothing to do with the question.

Even in the nephew story, there were small digressions.

 

I enjoyed the book, but if ever a book needed an editor it is "Queer Street." You might want to thumb through the book at a gay book store or Border's before buying it. A half hour will be enough to make a decision.

[eastbayguy]

>I enjoyed the book, but if ever a book needed an editor it is

>"Queer Street." You might want to thumb through the book at a

>gay book store or Border's before buying it. A half hour will

>be enough to make a decision.

 

There are these places called libraries. Your taxes pay to operate them. Stop by. Order the queer books. Even in a conservative place like Scottsdale, the librarians are glad to see you and usually have already ordered a copy of books like "Queer Street". It may not be in your nearest branch. But, they'll get it to you as fast as they can.

 

Why buy when you can rent? Seems to tie in well with the theme of this site.

 

--EBG

[+ Charlie]

It also needed a proofreader: it is filled with typographical errors that make many statements even more cryptic than intended.